Romualdez, De Asis share Palawan honors

MANILA, Philippines - NCR bet Jerome Romualdez finally nailed the elusive crown while local rising star Kianna de Asis romped away with three titles in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis presented by Technifibre at the Lacta Tennis Club in La Carlota, Bacolod City yesterday.

The top-seeded Romualdez, who fell short of his title bid in the first two legs in Ormoc and Iloilo, overpowered No. 2 Karl Baran of PTA Carlota, 6-1, 6-3, to complete his domination of the boys’ 16-and-under class that saw him advance to the finals without dropping a game.

De Asis, meanwhile, survived Tracy Llamas, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to pocket the girls’ 14-U crown then held off Erica Sevilla, 6-2, 7-5, in the 16-U finals to emerge the lone triple gold medal winner in the five-day Group 2 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center. De Asis later teamed up with Llamas to beat Reighn Aronales and Divanice Hibionada, 8-1, for the 14-U doubles plum.

Top seed Tony Rose Raymundo, also of PTA Carlota, also needed to toughen up to foil Jean Sunio, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, to keep the girls’ 18-U diadem while fourth ranked Rizza Cubos stunned No. 1 Bem Wayco, 6-2, 6-1, in the semis then pulled off a thrilling 7-5, 6-4 win over second seed La Carlota’s Alexa Milliam to snatch the girls 12-U plum in the fourth leg of the 38-stage nationwide circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Milliam earlier copped the 10-unisex crown with a 5-4 (2), 4-1 win over Kerwin de Asis while second seed Reyniel Marcellana from Dumaguete also upended top seed Baran in a fiercely fought finale, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, to pocket the boys’ 18-U title.

Unranked Kevin Villa from Escalante shocked top seed Reynan Mahusay, 6-3, 6-3, in the semis then trounced Arvin Toledo, 6-0, 6-4, to claim the boys’ 14-U crown while No. 1 Pete Andre Rodriguez of Bacolod whipped Dexter Obelidon, 6-0, 6-1, to annex the 12-U diadem.

“The string of reversals only underscores the level playing field with Cubos and Villa emerging as the players to watch in the circuit. All they need is support and more exposure to these ranking tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Action shifts to Dumaguete starting Thursday with the staging of the fifth leg. Registration is ongoing. For details, call the Palawan Pawnshop secretariat at 0915-4046464.